Adam Wier — Curious
Charger Cross Country | Class of 2022 | Versailles, KY
Words & Photo: Calli Townsend
Adam Wier is more than just a distance runner for the Hillsdale cross country and track & field team. He's a curious, science-loving, Pittsburgh Steelers fan, and if his career as a chemical engineer doesn't work out, he might just open a toy store.
Like many people, Adam came to Hillsdale for the community. He said the other engineering schools he was looking at were very professional and impressive, but they still felt cold and distant. Hillsdale, on the other hand, felt more like home.
"When I visited Hillsdale, I noticed a community that drew me in. Hillsdale really did feel like a welcoming place that I could see myself going to for four years," he said. "I hadn't met my running team beforehand, but now that I've had three seasons with them, I'm glad I chose to go here. They're my best friends, and a big part of why I love Hillsdale as much as I do."
Adam is now pursuing the sciences, still waiting to decide whether to major in chemistry or physics. With either route, he'll have to attend graduate school after his time at Hillsdale. He could pursue something in chemical engineering or even go on to medical school.
"Since I was young I've always enjoyed science and learning how things work. That's something my dad really taught me a lot about. He was big on engaging our curiosity," Adam said. "He always encouraged me when I'd come home and tell him something I learned from school. He says to find something you enjoy and go learn more about that."
And that's just what Adam is doing. As he continues to study and learn more, he'll have to start making bigger life decisions a part of his post-graduation plans. He says this process is teaching him a lot about patience.
"Patience, I'd say, is something I struggle with," he said. "But I'm learning that most things are out of my control and my plan is almost always not the best. But God knows the times and He knows when things are going to happen and they are going to be the best for me."
This lesson fits the theme of his favorite quote, "All human wisdom is contained in two words: Wait and Hope," from the book The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.
"I found that quote when I was reading The Count of Monte Cristo in high school and that struck me because that whole idea of patience is all over in the Bible," Adam said. "I realized you have to wait for God because whatever you get is the best because that's what God has laid out for you."
While Adam has many ideas of the kind of work he'd like to do after he graduates, right now he's working on trusting God and seeing what might be in store for him. He jokingly said that maybe if he doesn't go into chemical engineering, he'd maybe open a toy store.
"This isn't really serious, but I think it'd be cool to own a toy store. I was a big Lego fan when I was a kid so if I had a toy store and had all those Legos they'd put up, that'd be pretty fun," he said. "It'd be nice to inspire a kid like I was inspired. I think building inspired my curiosity. I'd build whole cities."
He said he'd also like to carry some Pittsburg Steelers toys for kids, as he is a big Steelers fan.
"My dad kind of brought that into our family. He has relatives from Pittsburg and I think when they moved to Kentucky he became a big fan of them," Adam said. "And they were on TV a lot so we became Steelers fans too."
Adam grew up in Kentucky with his older brother, Aaron, who was on the same cross country and track team as Adam in high school. During Adam's sophomore year, Aaron was a senior, and the two helped their team make school history.
"We swept the cross country and track state titles. When we won cross country, it was the first cross country state title for our school, and Aaron won overall as an individual," Adam said. "In track, I competed in the 3200 meter run and Aaron competed in like four events. It was cool we could both contribute a lot to help our team win its track state title too."
He says running together in high school really brought him and his brother closer together, and it keeps them close today as they continue their running careers at the college level. Aaron is currently a senior running at Furman University.
"My relationship with him really flourished after we were on the same team together and through running," Adam said. "Ever since then we run together over the summers when we're both home. I've grown to respect him a lot and I've always tried to emulate him because he always works really hard and he's one of the big reasons I try to run and am running here."